Students

Community college mission evolving

When North American Lighting, Tasus and other manufacturing operations arrived in the Shoals, they needed skilled workers.

Northwest-Shoals Community College responded by developing industry-specific courses in injectable plastics and other specialities.

Talk to state officials about the community college system in Alabama, and they will talk about jobs. Not only the jobs students will hopefully get with their degrees and certifications, but the jobs leaders are trying to lure here.

Among the incentives being used in that recruiting process is the workforce development help offered by community colleges.

"The two-year college system, as it works at this time, is one of the most effective and most important aspects of workforce training," Gov. Robert Bentley said last week. "They help me tremendously in what we're trying to do, and that's creating more jobs in the state."